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Navigating the Federal Job Market
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Navigating the Federal Job Market James MacDonald Economic Research Service U.S. Department of Agriculture Presentation for the Session on “Finding a Job at the ASSA Meetings” AAEA Annual Meeting, Seattle, August 14, 2012
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Navigating the Federal Job Market. James MacDonald Economic Research Service U.S. Department of Agriculture. Presentation for the Session on “Finding a Job at the ASSA Meetings” AAEA Annual Meeting, Seattle, August 14, 2012. Applying for Federal Jobs. Dual/Parallel Processes - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of Navigating the Federal Job Market
Navigating the Federal Job Market
James MacDonald
Economic Research Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Presentation for the Session on “Finding a Job at the ASSA Meetings”
AAEA Annual Meeting, Seattle, August 14, 2012
Applying for Federal Jobs
• Dual/Parallel Processes– Traditional “academic style” Process• Ads in JOE, AAEA newsletter, etc• Interviews at AAEA, ASSA• Visits to agency
– Official Federal hiring policies and procedures• WWW.USAJOBS.GOV• http://www.ers.usda.gov/AboutERS/Employment/
– Follow them both
ASSA is the Primary Job Market
• Enormous, alienating, and efficient– Check for AAEA functions
• Most federal agencies have adjusted– Some ag econ departments have not
–We want vita and job market paper well before• We do cold interviews, but not many
Once You Get an ASSA Interview
• Learn about the agency first– Go to the website; ask faculty & friends– Try to envision the nature of the work
• At your interview– Be prepared to discuss your JMP– Ask about the work• How would a month be spent? How do assignments get
chosen? How is success measured & promotion attained?– Your goals: what do you want to work on?
• After your dissertation• In five years
After Your ASSA Interview
• Normal agency timing...– Two weeks, and then staggered, for visits• Most visits will be like academic—seminar/interviews
– But, uncertainty abounds
– Don’t be afraid to call
– Don’t burn bridges
– Do have your “official” procedure completed
Top 10 Reasons To Work at ERS
• 1. Influence on Policy • 2. The ERS Team• 3. Modern Facilities• 4. State-of-the-Art Support• 5. Location, Location, Location -- The Capital City• 6. Publish and Flourish• 7. Seminars Abound• 8. Career Building• 9. Competitive Salaries and Benefits• 10. Work-life balance
But is That What You Want?What’s Not at ERS?
• Make, and advise on, policy decisions
• Manage federal programs
• Super-competitive salaries
• Free choice of research projects– ERS is food, farm, rural, resource
– You’re constrained within them
Here’s where “career-building” comes in
Start Early & Be Prepared!
• Contact informationJames MacDonald
Chief, Agricultural Structure & Productivity Branch
USDA Economic Research Service
202-694-5610
